The purpose of this study was to investigate the digestion and absorption of 1,3-dioleyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO) and its effects on mineral absorption and intestinal flora in vivo. Fatty acids and mineral faeces were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively. The intestinal flora composition was assessed using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. After 4-week feeding experiment, the apparent absorption rate of calcium in O group (mice fed with OPO) was 48.54 ± 0.21%, which was significantly higher than that in Z group (mice fed with mixed vegetable oil), the percentage of palmitic acid in serum of the O group mice was significantly higher. Compared with Z group, the mean relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae in the O group mice was higher. These results show that OPO can promote the absorption of fat and calcium, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Keywords: 1,3-dioleyl-2-palmitoylglycerol; Sn-2 palmitic acid; fatty acid; intestinal flora; mineral.